Attorney of alleged Silk Road operator files for dismissal of charges

Around six months after the alleged operator of Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, was arrested, his attorney filed a motion for all charges against him to be dropped.

According to a Tuesday Forbes article, which published the court documents, Ulbricht's attorney, Joshua Dratel, argued that Bitcoin isn't money (or a “monetary instrument” in its legal definition); thus, hampering the prosecution's money laundering charge against Ulbricht.

In the motion filed Saturday, Dratel also said that the three remaining charges against his client – computer hacking, running a criminal enterprise, and drug conspiracy – should be dismissed, as Ulbricht isn't necessarily liable for illegal activities carried out by Silk Road users, under Communications Decency Act protections.

If found guilty of all charges, 29-year-old Ulbricht could face a minimum 30 year prison sentence.

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